Desnianskyi

Desnianskyi Biosphere Reserve located in middle stream of the Desna River (one of the biggest branches of the Dnipro River) in the Eastern Polesie Region and presents the basic landscape types of the east of the Polesie Lowland: rivers, lakes, floodplains, bogs, transition mires, fens, real, peaty and swampy grasslands, pine, broad-leaf and mixed forests, including floodplains.

Human activities

Low density of population within the biosphere reserve and on adjoining areas, absence of huge industrial centers in the region create the background for development of agriculture and forestry on the base of principles of rational use of natural resources with considerable part of traditional forms of nature use.

Already now numbers of research, monitoring educational programs are realizing. National NaturePark "Desniansko-Starogutskyi", 3 small wildlife reserves(zakazniks) and 3 nature monuments, wetland of international importance "Desna River Floodplains" form the territory of the Reserve.

On the north Desnianskyi Biosphere Reserve borders with the Russian biosphere reserve "Nerusso-Desnianskoe-Polesie", which in future it is planning to consolidate in transboundary biosphere reserve.

Ecological characteristics

Desnianskyi Biosphere Reserve located in middle stream of the Desna River (one of the biggest branches of the Dnipro River) in the Eastern Polesie Region and presents the basic landscape types of the east of the Polesie Lowland: rivers, lakes, floodplains, bogs, transition mires, fens, real, peaty and swampy grasslands, pine, broad-leafand mixed forests, including floodplains.

Alluvial out wash plains occupy 60% of the reserve area, and 15% are terrace sand plains, which occupied by forests mainly.

20% of the reserve area are under flood plains and appr. 5% are moraine-out wash plains. The majority of agricultural lands are located between flood plains and a moraine-out wash plains, namely hay fields, pastures, etc.